Closed Doors!

At 56 I now see the opportunities that I lost were really obstacles I needed to avoid in order to stay on the path that was right for me.

There is so much wisdom offered in the passage of time.  Choices and decisions that were made decades ago, some painful, some regretful are now seen in a different light.  At the time it was so easy to judge harshly the reality of a painful new lesson.

There have been three instances in my life that at the time I labeled as 1. Hurtful 2. Painful 3. Regretful.

My family was part owner in a cool local business where I had worked growing up in Virginia Beach.  My father and his brother were majority shareholders.  I had always felt that this would be my legacy and could envision my future there until I learned that my father had sold his shares.  I was devastated and upset that his decision did not involve my counsel. 

After working for some time at Ferguson Enterprises I was offered what I perceived was the opportunity of a lifetime.  A successful business man was retiring and called me to discuss taking over his company.   He shared with me just how great of an opportunity it was and how he was looking forward to talking with me about it.  Then silence!  I later found out he hired my brother and offered the business to him.  I felt rejected, betrayed and pissed off!

After attending Ferrum College and graduating successfully I developed an attitude of regret and felt that perhaps the path that I had chosen was not fit for me!  I had enjoyed the experience however did not feel the desire to promote or be thankful for the gift of education that I had received.

Today I am confident all things happen for a reason and help to construct the fabric of your life.  I harbor not one ounce of regret for the outcomes of my decisions and now know I was simply following a path that I was destined to travel.

I recently returned to Ferrum College as an Executive in Residence.  For a day I met with students, professors, and trustees of the institution.  I was offered the opportunity to share my life with the campus as well as live streaming for an expanded audience.  Preparation for the day led me to the wisdom of my third door. 

Ferrum College opened that door for me again and invited me back to finish my education.  It became clear to me that this day was special and I look forward to my next lesson.

I choose to celebrate my life’s path and share my found wisdom with others that are seekers like me.  

Together we will build a future worth teaching about!

Be Noble my friends!

NobleOne

Living after death?

When I was writing my book Normal to Noble in 2012 I constructed a timeline of my life.  I listed all of the things that I felt were significant and placed a date beside it along with the duration of that event.  What a great exercise it was then and now I am using it once again.

This week I have the honor of addressing my alma mater Ferrum College at what’s called the Executive in Residence program.  I have been asked to prepare a 30/45 minute key note address.  The topic of the address is basically my life and how I got to be at this podium.   

While researching for my speech I had remembered my timeline and reviewed it once again with different objectives.  I realized that five significant events help to create the person I am today.

Those events were attending college, meeting Dick Dearing, Dad dying, creating the Men’s Breakfast, and my son Matt’s birth.

At college I faced challenges, made my own decisions, exercised independence and became resourceful.  Clearly a different person from the young man that entered as a freshman. 

I met Dick Dearing during my third career with WaterFurnace International.  I was working a trade show and Dick needed help on a large home he was building in Roanoke, Va.  We spoke for hours and became friends.  He shared with me his philosophy on tithing and how it was working in his life.  My views on giving were forever changed that day. 

My father died in 1984 and rocked my world.  Reviewing my life after 1984, it looks as if I really started living after my father died.  Reflecting on it now, it took my dad to die for me to understand how to live better in this world.  From that point on I solved things internally as opposed to externally. 

Afterwards I discovered my “voice” as I call it.  Listening to my internal compass has led me on some significant adventures, the first was the creation of the Men’s Breakfast at First Presbyterian Church in 1987.   That stint lasted every week for 14 years and significantly impacted my life!  It was simply something that I was "called" to do.  

After my son’s miracle birth in 1993 the “voice” returned and led me to create The Robin Hoods of Virginia Beach and eventually The Noblemen.

When someone close to you dies; it can actually create or destroy your own life.  For me, the death of my Father allowed me to live a fuller and more robust life. 

Saving my son’s life instead of aborting him at 22.5 weeks was the right decision that allowed me the life I enjoy now. 

I encourage those of you that are seekers to review your timeline so you better understand how your life changes as significant instances occur in your life.  

How you respond to the death of loved ones and your actions afterwards are up to you!  

Do your best not to die a little bit but to live a little bit better and honor those that came before us! 

NobleOne

That One Thing!

Who doesn't remember that line by Jack Palance in the movie City Slickers?   

Sometimes "one thing" can prevent you from doing great things.  Facing your "one thing" and doing something about it can really change your life in an awesome way!  

I think for most of it we hope that someone else or something else will fix our "one thing."  

For others that "one thing" might be something that they cannot change!  In that case it really depends on how you allow it to affect your life! 

I am facing my "one thing" right now!  

For most of my adult life I have struggled with this "one thing!"  Consumption...and I am not talking about pulmonary tuberculosis!  

I love to consume almost everything!  

My "one thing" is my lack of ability to match my consumption with depletion. 

This week I have made the decision to take on my "one thing" with a “reboot.”   I will not consume any solid foods for 30 days.  My only consumption will be juiced fruits and vegetables. 

I discovered this two years ago and it simply works.  One pound a day will go away.  Depletion that is healthy and doable for me!

Now if my “one thing” goes away what will be my next "one thing?" 

I don’t think I will mention it in this blog!  

However know this!  When it comes along...

I will be ready!  

How about you? 

NobleOne

Uncharitable!

I just got back from the Outerbanks of NC spending time with my board and a couple more local heroes! 

We dined and shared libations together and told stories of who we are.  One after another people stood up at dinner and talked about their passion for what we do.  There were no other agendas discussed, we simply basked in Nobility!

The next day we talked about how we pay for all of this?  These are tough conversations for a nonprofit.  Our paradigm is changing and we all are adjusting to new realities.

Dan Palotta wrote a book titled Uncharitable and I encourage anyone engaged in any way with the nonprofit sector to listen or read about this man’s observation of how things are and why they need to change.  It opened up my eyes to the way most observe the business of philanthropy and offers fresh perspectives for change. 

My goals are to find common ground using for-profit business standards and applying them to the nonprofit business model. 

Where is our Girl Scout Cookie?  Consider how much of the resources of the Girls Scouts worldwide are dedicated to the selling, marketing, promotion, branding, volunteering, meetings and parental involvement of selling a cookie?  I know this is sacred cow but come on!  Think about it!!!!!!

Tomorrow is a new day for our organization and I plan to think differently about matching our resources to our mission!  Our passion lies in what we do and the impact it has in all of our lives and in those of whom we help. 

We plan to connect our revenue resources to our philanthropy and celebrate it!  We will search out partners that will invest with all of us to change lives in our community!

Our goal is to generate the assets that you don’t find on a balance sheet!

 

All of our great stories (and there are many) seem to have a common element.  They involve a lot of folks focusing on what they know is the right thing to do at that time. 

It is our job as an organization to uncover the opportunities and change them into possibilities utilizing resources that we have all invested in.

I am excited about the future of The Noblemen and I look forward to changing the perspective of our community and the way they consider investing in a local nonprofit, especially ours!

NobleOne